Anchor for beach umbrella

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, flexible, portable bag which can be filled with beach sand, rocks, dirt or other loose material is connected to the upper part of the pole of a beach umbrella by a long flexible cord. The lower portion of the cord is secured to the open end of the nylon bag. The upper end of the cord is connected to the upper end of the pole of the umbrella by a hook-and-loop type fastener strap which wraps around the umbrella pole. The lower end of the cord is fitted within a hem in the opening of the bag to form a drawstring for closure of the bag to retain the sand or loose material in the bag during use. One end of the cord is formed into a loop with the long end of the cord passing through the loop and connected to the umbrella pole. Tension on the cord during use will cinch the drawstring closed thus retaining the material within the bag. The weight of the bag connected to the upper part of the pole will stabilize the umbrella in light to moderate winds. Prior to filling, the bag has minimal weight so as to be easily transported.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention related to weighted devices used for stabilization of beach umbrellas.

Several weighted devices for stabilization of beach umbrellas have bee taught in the prior art, however each of the devices has limitations overcome by the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,893 to Furey, includes a stiff pole for connecting to a weighted anchor which requires transport and limits the compatibility of the structure. Furey also includes a complicated connection system which limits the simplicity and ease of use of the device and requires a bag designed for carrying the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,305 to Mailman teaches a simplified weight, however the weights are suspended directly from the top of the umbrella, thus placing them directly overhead of the umbrella users and creating a potential hazzard. In addition, the placement of the weights, although increasing the weight of the umbrella also make the umbrella top heavy and thus more susceptible to falling.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,168,437 and 6,446,649 to Bigford teaches a metal ring for connection to the lower portion of the umbrella pole and the need for multiple weights adding unnecessary complexity. Connection directly to the lower portion fo the umbrella pole provides significantly less stability than the design of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,877 to Riffle teaches placing the pole of the umbrella into a large bag. By securing the lower end of the pole, less stabilization is achieved. In addition, the size of the bag reduces the usable area under the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable anchor of the present invention is attached to the upper portion of the umbrella pole with a hook-and-loop type fastener strap to provide ease of connection and increased stability. The flexible cord allows for a completely collapsible, compact and portable design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an overall illustration of the anchor of the present invention attached to a beach umbrella.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the bag opening and the hem and cord construction used to cinch the bag closed during use.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the anchor and strap of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the hook-and-loop type fastener strap connection of the present invention attached to the pole of a beach umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a beach umbrella 10 with its lower end 11 buried in the sand 12. An umbrella with a different lower end, such as a stand will work as well with the present invention. The umbrella 10 has a pole 13 and a canopy 14 attached to the upper end of the pole 13. The canopy 14 is supported in its open position by a runner 15 which travels along the pole and locks toward the top of the pole 13 to maintain the canopy 14 in its open position.

Anchor bag 16, is connected to the pole 13 of the umbrella 10 by hook-and-loop type fastener strap 17 attached around the pole 13 above the runner 15. Inelastic cord 18 connects the hook-and-loop type fastener strap 17 to the anchor bag 16.

As better illustrated in FIG. 2, anchor bag 16 has an open end 19 and a closed end 20 so that bag 16 can be filled with sand or other weighted material. Open end 19 has an annular hem 21 formed within the circumference of the opening 19. Cord 18 extends around opening 19 inside hem 21. One end of cord 18 has a loop 22. The length of cord 18 extends through loop 22 so that when cord 18 is pulled, the portion of cord 18 within hem 21 will cinch bag 16 closed so as to retain the material within bag 21.

Because the distal end 17 of cord 16 is attached to the upper end of pole 13, tension will be maintained on cord 16 so that the cinching of bag 16 is maintained by the supporting action of the umbrella 10.

As better illustrated in FIG. 3, hook-and-loop type fastener strap 17 at the end of cord 18 has two parts 23 and 24 attached to the end of cord 18. As illustrated in FIG. 4, inner strap portion 23 is wrapped around pole 13 with its hook-and-loop type fastener portion 25 facing outward. Outer strap portion 24 is then lapped over inner strap portion 23 with the hook-and-loop type fastener surface 26 of outer strap portion 24 facing in towards the hook-and-loop type fastener portion 25 of inner strap portion 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, strap 17 is positioned above runner IS so as to remain secure at the upper portion of pole 13.

The weight of the material in bag 16 will stabilize umbrella 10 against low to medium winds. Once filled, bag 16 is cinched closed and placed on the ground at a distance from the bottom of pole 13 to provide an angle for supporting the umbrella 10. Tension is maintained on cord 18 by the wind pressure on the umbrella 10. The tension on cord 18 prevents loosening of the cord 18 within the hem 21 to prevent the bag 16 form opening and spilling its contents and thus reducing its weight and stabilizing effect.

Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments of the invention which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An anchor for a beach umbrella, comprising: a lightweight flexible, portable bag which can be filled with beach sand, rocks, dirt or other loose material; an elongated, flexible, inelastic cord attached at a first end to said bag, for connecting said bag to the upper portion of a support pole of a beach umbrella; wherein said cord has a loop formed in said first end of said cord and wherein said cord passes through said loop; a hook-and-loop type fastener strap attached to a second end of said strap configured to be wrapped around said upper portion of said support pole; and a hem formed in said bag for receiving said, first end of said cord forming a drawstring closure for said bag to retain said material within said bag, wherein the tension applied to the inelastic cord between the bad and umbrella maintains a closed hem so as to secure the contents of the bag.
 3. (canceled)
 4. An anchor for a beach umbrella having a support pole with an upper portion and a lower portion and a canopy attached at said upper portion and a runner having an upper locked position adjacent the lower limit of said upper portion of said pole for maintaining said canopy in an open position; comprising: an anchor bag with an open end and a closed end; said open end having an annular hem formed within the circumference of said opening; a cord having a first end extending around said opening inside said hem; a loop formed in said first end of said cord with said cord extending through said loop; a hook-and-loop type fastener strap attached to a second end of said cord for attachment to said upper end of said pole above said runner.
 5. The anchor of claim 4, said strap having an inner strap portion and an outer strap portion with complementary faces of hook-and-loop type fasteners.
 6. The anchor of claim 5 wherein: said inner strap portion is wrapped around said support pole with a hook-and-loop type fastener portion facing outward and said outer strap portion is then overlapped on said inner strap portion with a hook-and-loop type fastener surface facing in towards said hook-and-loop type fastener portion of said inner strap portion. 